Trade & Politics: Indonesia Sets Zero Tariff for Palestinian Products
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi said the Indonesian government imposed zero tariffs for certain Palestinian products entering Indonesia since the start of the year. This policy aims at supporting Palestine economically.
"Indonesia's support for Palestine not only consists of political support, but also involves economic support as well as technical cooperation," Marsudi said at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday (09/01). The Indonesian Foreign Minister said technical cooperation with the Palestinians refers to cooperation related to desalinated water and health.
Marsudi emphasized that - through diplomacy - the Indonesian government will continue to battle for the Palestinians for the sake of humanity and justice. She said "Palestine is at the heart of Indonesia's foreign policy and in every breath of Indonesian diplomacy." Therefore, Indonesia also calls other countries to support Palestine.
After US President Donald Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, outrage flared up in the Islamic world in early and mid-December 2017, including in Indonesia, the country with the biggest Muslim population. In Indonesia, thousands took the streets to demand a reversal of Trump's decision.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo immediately reacted to Trump's announcement, in a televised speech, saying Indonesia strongly condemns the US' formal recognition of Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel and urges Trump to reconsider his decision as the decision not only reverses about seven decades of US foreign policy and unleashes overwhelming global criticism but it also violates several UN resolutions and could likely trigger political and religious turmoil in the Middle East as well as in the rest of the world. Widodo also reaffirmed Indonesia's support for Palestinian independence.